Probe finds Jalandhar private hospital was overcharging for test

JALANDHAR: The Jalandhar district administration has found the authorities of Patel Hospital at Civil Lines here charged ₹5,500 for a Covid-19 test on July 21 even as the government has fixed the maximum charges, including taxes, at ₹2,400.

The hospital wrongly charged ₹3,100 towards the cost of the personal protective equipment (PPE) kit for the safety of lab technicians and clinicians, ignoring state government orders of July 18 that caps the Covid-19 test charges at ₹2,400.

An inquiry was marked by deputy commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on July 22 on the complaint of Rajeev Makol, a resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar.

Assistant commissioner (grievances) Randeep Gill, who conducted the inquiry, said in his final report submitted to the state health department that the hospital was overcharging for the test.

The report said that the complainant met medical superintendent Dr Swapan Sood but he justified the higher rate, saying that Patel Hospital is a private facility conducting the test locally. Dr Sood said that the hospital charged ₹2,400 for the test but the remaining amount was towards the PPE kit and doctor charges of pharyngeal swabbing.

“The government order states that ₹2,400 is inclusive and all expenses from tax to packaging, transportation, reporting and

documentation is included. Money charged by the hospital for PPE kits holds no ground,” the inquiry report said.

In a statement, Patel Hospital said it did not agree with report filed by the assistant commissioner (grievances).

The statement added that it was not a private laboratory, but included several other facilities like isolation wards, oxygen supply etc. The isolation ward charges fixed by the government at ₹9,000 per day included, ₹1,200 towards PPE charges and some others.